Spotify Offers Nigerian Podcasters, Others $100k

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A first-of-its-kind podcast initiative in Africa aimed to support podcasters and further amplify their stories has been introduced by a top global streaming platform, Spotify.

The company is providing $100,000 for the scheme tagged Africa Podcast Fund, which will bolster the careers of these podcast creators through financial grants, workshops and networking opportunities.

It is offered to 13 creators from African countries with the biggest podcast listenerships, namely South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana.

The grant also includes a Cameroonian podcast with large listenerships both in France and in Francophone African countries, such as Cote d’Ivoire. Given the wide range of selected countries, the winning podcasts are recorded in a range of languages, including Pidgin, English, French, Sheng, Ga, and Twi.

The fund will be administered by Africa Podfest, a Kenyan-based company focused on inspiring and elevating African podcasters by building a sustainable and inclusive podcasting industry across Africa.

“Africa Podfest is excited about the development of podcasting in Africa, particularly because the medium allows underrepresented African voices to tell the story of Africa,” says Melissa Mbugua, Co-Director, Africa Podfest.

In Nigeria, the firm has picked the host of I Said What I Said, Feyikemi Abudu, an entrepreneur who is excited about helping small businesses to grow, and Jola Ayeye, a storyteller with a core interest in contemporary African culture.

Another podcaster chosen was Taymesan, who covers societal issues and personal experiences in a fun, light-hearted and entertaining way through Tea With Tay; and F&S Uncensored hosted by Feyikemi Akin-Bankole and Simi Badiru.

In Cameroon, a journalist and art collector, Diane Audrey Ngako, who hosts Si Maman M’avait Dit, which roughly translates to If my mom had told me, was picked for the initiative, and from Kenya, the Sandwich Podcast hosted by Joan, Kibz, Nyamita and Owen was picked.

Spotify also selected from the East African nation the hosts of the Messy Inbetween, Murugi Munyi and Lydia Mukami, for the scheme. Others include Mantalk.ke hosted by Kenyan creators Eli Mwenda and Oscar Koome; and Nipe Story hosted by Kevin Mwachiro.